Delegation to seek workers down south

GLADSTONE industries are screaming for skilled mechanics and engineers.

A delegation from the Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited (GAPDL) will travel to Adelaide in a bid to fill the gap.

GAPDL CEO Danial Rochford said the group will target retrenched General Motors Holden workers.

The bid dubbed 'Make The Move' is designed to help solve the city's skills shortage.

'Through GAPDL's recent skills shortages survey, it became clear that a number of industries experience skills shortages, most notably the motor mechanics and engineering industry,' Mr Rochford said.

The delegation will use employment incentives and the attraction of a better lifestyle in the Gladstone region to entice redundant workers.

The scheme is a collaborative effort between the GAPDL and Central Queensland shires.

The Central Queensland economy is growing strongly and solidly, however it is being hampered by a shortage of skilled workers required to keep the economy moving.

In its bid to help foster sustained economic development and growth Central Queensland local governments, regional development organisations, the Queensland government, employment services providers and employers have combined to send a delegation to Adelaide to entice the retrenched workers to move to Central Queensland.

The meeting in Adelaide will go from November 16 to 19. The type of labour force they are recruiting includes process workers, mechanics and light metals engineers.